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NHL Rankings & Payroll Directly Correlate!

I find it extremely interesting to evaluate the correlation between NHL Rankings and $'s spent on payroll. Based on my research (this season), more than two-thirds of the teams rank within five spots of their relative salary payroll when compared to their actual NHL ranking. Only two teams deviate in the top ten, and they are ranked number 8 and 9 respectively.

There is a direct correlation between budget and performance, as I expected, if not, there would be no need for a salary cap.

Please find my research below, should you have any questions, I am more than happy to explain.

PS: Acceptability is based on a teams ability to stay within five spots of its payroll and team standing, if positive, it is acceptable, otherwise, it is unacceptable.

As of 3/16/2011
NHL RK. Team Pts. Payroll Cap RK. Cap RK. - NHL RK. Dev. >5 Dev. Count Accept./Unaccept.
1 Vancouver 101 $69,650,000 1 0 NO 0 Acceptable
2 Philadelphia 93 $68,591,667 2 0 NO 0 Acceptable
3 Washington 92 $66,905,000 4 1 NO 0 Acceptable
4 Detroit 90 $63,025,000 9 5 NO 0 Acceptable
5 Pittsburgh 90 $66,700,000 5 0 NO 0 Acceptable
6 San Jose 88 $62,781,662 10 4 NO 0 Acceptable
7 Boston 87 $64,241,667 7 0 NO 0 Acceptable
8 Tampa Bay 87 $59,154,167 14 6 YES 1 Acceptable
9 LA 85 $55,862,417 17 8 YES 1 Acceptable
10 Chicago 84 $62,102,875 12 2 NO 0 Acceptable
11 Montreal 83 $63,730,833 8 3 NO 0 Acceptable
12 Phoenix 83 $48,762,500 23 11 YES 1 Acceptable
13 Dallas 82 $49,385,000 22 9 YES 1 Acceptable
14 Calgary 81 $67,162,500 3 11 YES 1 Unacceptable
15 Nashville 80 $51,925,000 20 5 NO 0 Acceptable
16 Anaheim 79 $54,025,000 18 2 NO 0 Acceptable
17 Rangers 78 $64,902,500 6 11 YES 1 Unacceptable
18 Minnesota 77 $59,721,028 13 5 NO 0 Acceptable
19 Buffalo 76 $56,220,000 16 3 NO 0 Acceptable
20 Coumbus 74 $57,594,167 15 5 NO 0 Acceptable
21 Carolina 74 $46,773,333 24 3 NO 0 Acceptable
22 St. Louis 71 $35,038,333 29 7 YES 1 Acceptable
23 NJ 70 $62,740,000 11 12 YES 1 Unacceptable
24 Toronto 70 $50,730,000 21 3 NO 0 Acceptable
25 Atlanta 70 $39,895,000 27 2 NO 0 Acceptable
26 Florida 65 $36,194,167 28 2 NO 0 Acceptable
27 Islanders 65 $32,671,750 30 3 NO 0 Acceptable
28 Colorado 60 $43,202,500 26 2 NO 0 Acceptable
29 Ottawa 59 $52,857,500 19 10 YES 1 Unacceptable
30 Edmonton 55 $46,340,000 25 5 NO 0 Acceptable